footwear

[jeanpaul3006]

Any suggestions for footwear in africa?  will be doing some spot and stalk as well as blind hunting. thanks jp

[tradtusker]

Go for Leather boots or shoes for the thorns
Very "important" that it has a flat of crepe rubber sole or you will make to much noise.

something like this is what we use...

[jeanpaul3006]

thanks for the info Andy.

[Blaino]

Andy- what brand are the 1st picture?

[tradtusker]

Blaine, Im not sure of the brand of the first. We call that stile "Vellies" "bush shoes"
If you really want to walk and stalk..
I can not stress enough the importance of the sole
"the more tread...The more Noise!!!"

[John Havard]

Clarks Wallabee chukka boots with their crepe soles are the quietest protective footwear I know of.  They are super comfortable too.

Here are some on sale;

http://www.amazon.com/Clarks-Originals-Mens-Wallabee-Boot/dp/B0007MULPK

[jonsimoneau]

In the blinds, you are just gonna wear tennis shoes most of the time.  Thats what I did.  Hell most of the time I wore flip flops!  If you are going to stalk, any lightweight leather boot will be just fine.  You are very unlikely to run into any snakes during hunting season over there. The trackers don't even wear shoes! HA!

[Gil Verwey]

The shoes shown were known as Hush Puppies here in the US.

Gil

[Gil Verwey]

What are the short gaiters called I see many PHs wearing with low boots like these.

Thanks
Gil

[Gil Verwey]

They were also called desert boots and still are.

http://us.asos.com/ASOS-Desert-Boots-in-Suede/zme89/?iid=2667556&cid=4209&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=9999&sort=-1&clr=Stone&utm_source=google_product_search&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=go ogle_product_search&WT.tsrc=Google%20Product%20Search&WT.srch=1&affid=2365&WT.srch=1&r=2&mporgp=L0FTT1MvQVNPUy1EZXNlcnQtQm9vdHMtaW4tU3VlZGUvUHJvZC8.

[ermont]

I just got back two weeks ago from my second trip. Anything will work. I wore tennis shoes most days in the blind. Any low or ankle high type hiker (think Merrill) will be perfect for spot and stalk. Be more worried about the bushes. Everything has a thorn. Don't wear clothes that snag or tear easily if you are going to spot and stalk.

[bucksakemmer]

The short gaiters are called "Save My Socks" and mine are made from Kudu leather, the PH had them for sale. Great investment for $30.00

[Gil Verwey]

I just picked up a set of safari gaiters from Midway.

The original desert boots we had when I was young were Clark Desert Boots. I couldn't remember that name for the life of me. Getting old.

[SKITCH]

Yep...they were all the rage back in the late 70's early 80's.  we too just called them "Wallabee's" or "Dexters". That's who made them/...or just desert boots.  Never had ANY idea that folks actually USED them in the outdoors!!  Ha ha.  Now that I'm older I still wear the Clarkes with the Crepe soles...they make a ton of options....still never knew what they were for.  Just thought they were comfortable.  I remember when it was a big deAl a few years ago when many of the cowboy boot companies started offering boots options with the crepe!  Thought that was just a comfort thing too.  Must be for cowboys in the desert!          
Guess ya learn something different everyday if ya just pay attention.

If your searching for them look also for "chukka's".  The category of boot that desert boots fall into.  All desert boots are Chukkas but not all Chukkas are desert boots.  Some of them come with other materials for the soles. (Besides crepe). Just an FYI.